complimentary
March 2012
OUR TOWNE
Complimentary GO
GR ING E iss EN ue
Our Towne Your Hometown Community Resource
Rensselaer County’s Community Resource
Monolith Solar
The staff, featured above at their new location in Rensselaer
INSIDE A Solar Future? Gardening & Landscaping Ideas Discover Irish History with Local Geneologist
Landscaping by Steve Noel of A-Z LANDSCAPING
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
Table of Contents Our Towne O T Rensselaer R l County C t March 2012 In Every Issue Community Calendar (20-21) Wellness (34-36) Kid’s Pages (26-29) Message from the Vet (14) Your Home Guide (12-16) Hidden Gems Series - Serenity Day Spa & Salon (15) Book Review (23) March Feature ~ Going Green A Solar Future? (4-5) Landscaping Tips (10-11) Are You Irish? (34) Please note an error in our last issue: The article about a teacher from St. Jude the Apostle School was credited to Dr. Carney but the first name was incorrect. The Doctor’s name is Cathleen not Angela. It was written by Dr. Cathleen Carney. Our Towne apologizes for any confusion.
Publisher/ Editor/ Sales/Design Debbie Gaylord 518-641-9330 debbie@ourtownerensco.com www.ourtownerensco.com Our Towne’s Mission Our Towne seeks to connect local businesses to local consumers by highlighting the best of what Rensselaer County and the surrounding areas have to offer. All Rights Reserved ~ Our Towne is published by Our Towne Marketing & Consulting LLC, 1077 Schodack Landing Road, Schodack Landing, NY 12156; 518-641-9330. Published monthly and distributed free of charge.
Submissions If you are interested in being a contributor in Our Towne please see our website for editorial calendar and/or send submissions ideas to: debbie@ourtownerensco.com
EDITOR’s NOTE Dear Reader, What is your nationality? That was a question I remember hearing a lot when I was a kid. Back then I only knew a little bit about my ancestry because I am adopted. My adoptive parents were German, French and Irish but growing up I always wanted to know my own ethnic background. I vaguely knew that my Birth Parents were Italian, Irish & French but I didnt know much about the details. I envied my friends who could proudly say their “nationality” and have a bit of that culture in their lives. When I was 30 years old all that changed when I met my little Italian (and French and Polish) Birth Mother for the first time. I was so excited to know for sure I was Italian and was able to claim that culture as my own. I also learned that my Birth Father was Scotch-Irish, and could say with a certainty I never had in the past, “Kiss Me - I’m Irish!”. Knowing your ancestry is a facination shared by many. Learning how to do the research is explored by Lisa Dougherty this month in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. But our Going Green issue is not only about St. Patrick’s Day. We contemplate ‘A Solar Future’ in Darren Rosenbaum’s feature story with a look at the local solar companies. We also have landscaping and gardening tips from your local experts. As always, enjoy this issue of OUR TOWNE!!! Thanks Debbie Gaylord, Publisher
Contributors Darren Rosenbaum, Dr. David Stone, DVM, Dr. Amy Cole, Richard Morell, Diane Lehmuler Hardy, Lynn Catelotti Bridgette Chandler, Danielle Morris, Dr. Patrick Bergmann, Dr. Joe Lapinski
Lori King-Kocis Catherine Sager (Photography) Audra Bently Lisa Dougherty Edward Pratt Bernice Leone
Sales Debbie Gaylord Linda Scutari
2
MARCH 2012
My Place & Co Goes Green for
St. Patrick’s Day
$8.99 Corned Beef &
Family Sports Restaurant & Bar
Cabbage Dinner
&RPH WR 0\ 3ODFH &R WR :DWFK
s.
et
0$5&+ 0$'1(66
as
d
y y.
Eat in or Take Out & Delivery
477-5555 1640 Columbia Turnpike Schodack
*10 TVs, *The Best Wings in Town *Home of the Half Pounder Burger
MyPlaceandCompany.com Visit Us on the My Place facebook page
n ar
-
Old-Fashioned Personal Service Meeting Your Modern Healthcare Needs
DELI
FREE Local Delivery No-Hassle Prescription Transfer Accepting All Major Insurances Stephanie Young
Miller Young
Family Owned & Operated
Come Visit Our
Delicious Soups & Sandwiches
1636 Burden Lake Rd ~ Averill Park, NY ~ WWW. AverillParkPharmacy.com phone: 518-674-3663 ~ fax: 518-674-1400 Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
3
AHowSOLAR FUTURE? Solar Energy Will Help Us
GO GREEN & Transform our Lives By Darren Rosenbaum
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter spoke to the nation about how our insatiable demand for energy was crippling the nation. We’d suffered from consecutive oil embargoes where prices shot up, people were out of work and politicians made promises that lacked positive long-term results. His administration set a goal of deriving 20% of our national energy needs from renewables by 2000 and, as a symbolic start, had a 32 panel solar heater installed atop the White House in 1979. Carter’s experiment didn’t catch on and few Americans remember that in 1986, President Reagan had the White House solar heater removed and placed in what amounted to permanent ‘storage’. In retrospect, it’s easy to understand why Carter’s ‘renewable energy’ initiative never took root. Many of us were raised to believe a ‘middle-class’ lifestyle built on cheap and plentiful energy is a birthright. Our hubris was short-lived however as scarcity means we face tough international competition for limited natural resources. After all, over 300 million Chinese ‘enjoy’ a newfound material wealth and believe entrance into the ‘middle-class’ is their birthright too. Equal to our entire population, they, along with each of their equals in India, Russia and Brazil, believe they’ve sacrificed long enough. More Americans are now aware of how the law of demand means a ‘middle-class’ lifestyle could never be permanently reserved for Westerners alone. It’s clear that we’d reached a turning point in 1979, but ‘failed to turn’. Thirty-three years later the same scenario is playing out again as Americans are suffering from an energy crisis that threatens a weak economic recovery. Prices have shot up, people are again out of work and politicians continue to make promises that lack clarity. How many more opportunities will we have to solve our energy needs? Will we ever break out of this cycle of energy dependency and uncertainty or will history do what it does so well, and repeat itself yet again? It may be too early to declare a victory but it appears like we may have ‘turned’ in our view towards renewable energy. A decade ago solar panels were still somewhat of an oddity, but today they are popping up all over, with new companies taking the opportunity to serve a growing clientele fed up with energy uncertainty. As you can see on our cover, one such company is Monolith Solar Associates of Rensselaer. Started 4 years ago by Steven Erby and business partner Mark Fobare, Monolith Solar is riding a wave of new interest in alternative energy. A career Amtrak engineer, Erby’s entrepreneurial motivation came from totally different directions. One was his high monthly electric bills; the other had to do with Jay Leno’s on-air discussion of ‘vertical access wind turbines’ as an alternative energy source for the garage where he stored his car collection. Intrigued, Erby researched the possibilities but concluded that wind’s inconsistency meant solar would be the solution. An aggressive start-up, Erby grew the business by pouring money into it. He used some of his own, but to make Monolith Solar take off, he maxed out his credit cards to finance the company’s first project, putting solar panels atop the new Rensselaer Public Library in 2009. Profits from the first project were used to help finance a system on the roof of the Department of Public Works for the Town of Schodack. Even with these initial successes, Monolith still operated on a shoestring budget. For instance, Erby and his 30 employees are still using the ‘room over the garage’ in his home as a corporate office. However, when we met in Rensselaer recently, he showed me progress on Monolith’s new headquarters at 444 Washington St., near the Amtrak station. When completed this spring, Erby says normalcy will return to wife Kristina’s household and allow the company to double its staff. 4
MARCH 2012
Fo ro sit rot Pla th ac Re ge an
ob sto ex
h s t o a A
all for SP
20
ren
ou
Sp
an
vo
jus
las
$3
me
wa
on th
rea
ma
h
nd h e
e
de
th
e
ar
or is m
r-
A quick drive around the Capital District and it’s clear that Erby and Fobare’s gamble paid off. Monolith’s distinctive logo of a green sun surrounding a winding path to infinity fronts numerous commercial building sites. The newest project is installing ‘trackers’ for a 50 kW pole-mounted rotating photovoltaic system at the East Greenbush Wastewater Treatment Plant on Columbia Turnpike. Recently completed systems are all ‘hooked to the grid’ for both daily usage and credit. A short list of Monolith’s impressive accomplishments; the 53kW fixed system at Marshall’s Signs on 9J south of Rensselaer, a solar ‘carport’ behind the KeyBank in Schodack that is currently generating electric for the building but may also charge cars someday, and an enormous 144kW system at Jack Byrne Ford in Mechanicville. Monolith’s success is being duplicated elsewhere but solar still faces The Berry Farm, Chatham, NY obstacles. At The Berry Farm, a family owned organic and locally grown farm store located on Rt. 203 just outside Chatham, owner Joe Gilbert had been interested for some time in using solar to offset the expense refrigeration required to keep his produce fresh year round. According to Gilbert, a representative from Hudson Valley “A generation fr om now, this solar Energy out of Red Hook unexpectedly stopped in to pitch an idea. They would heater can either be a curiosity, a mu- build a 30kW pole-mounted system that would reduce the farms’ energy bills seum piece, an example of a road not by 50%! The catch; It would cost $200,000 and the federal grant Hudson Valley taken, or it can be just a small par t of Energy would use to finance the build still required Joe to finance $45,000! For a small business owner like Joe Gilbert, the up-front cost of owning solar one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the is prohibitive, even with federal or state grants and initiatives. In the end, Gilbert took the long-term approach, reasoning that this investment would more than American people.” President Jimmy Carter pay for itself over time. However, if solar is to become a true alternative, an educated public and continued government funding is the key. As Steve Erby 1979 pointed out, Solar Power Purchase Agreements (SPPA) were devised years ago, allowing commercial and residential customers to only pay for the electricity the system generates and avoid the upfront costs for equipment and installation. However, even though installers have advertised this for some time, ‘renting’ a system through an SPPA is hardly front-page news, and where a ‘solar future’ faces its greatest hurdle. In 1979, Carter set a goal of having renewables meet 20% of national energy needs by 2000. But in 2011, renewables only generated 11% of our national energy output, and only 1% of that came from solar. Today, Spain dominates the field of solar-thermal technology, and Germany leads the world in deploying solar photovoltaic’s while the United States limps along, investing just $5 billion into renewable research and initiatives last year. By comparison, the Chinese invested over $30 billion last year on energy research and development and they lead the world in using solar to heat hot water for daily use. We should have had a 33 year lead on our global competitors and been way out in front of this. Current troubles in the Middle East means we’ve reached another ‘turning point’. Will we turn? It should make you wonder…
Monolith Solar Solar Cost Reduction For Your Business, Organization or Home Now is an ideal time to add electric solar. Prices have dropped and government incentives are still strong. For instance, you can own a system that will provide a substantial portion of your household electricity for under $4,000 after rebates and incentives. By owning your system, instead of leasing it, you’ll be saving far more money. So, for clean, economical electricity from free sunlight, call us to learn why going solar can be a great choice.
MonolithSolar.com, East Greenbush, NY (518) 444-2044, info@MonolithSolar.com
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
5
SCRAPSTER HELPS LOCAL RESIDENTS GO GREEN BY RECYCLING THEIR STUFF S crapster is family o wned local business which pr ovides a NO COST scrap metal and applianc e pick up and r emoval service. We cover a 50 mile radius around Albany, NY including the entire Capital District Region, Southern Vermont and Western Massachusetts. You will find us convenient, reliable and able to provide top Quality same day service when needed. Everything is properly recycled, disposed of or donated and we can provide proof of insurance when required on your project. We pick up anything metal or par tially metal. Some examples: large or small applianc es, motors, wire, metal furnitur e, tools, lawn/garden equipment, aut o/trucks parts, plus cars , trucks and farm equipment. We also remove certain non metallic items such as batt eries and x-rays and we now offer paper/ document shredding and destruc tion. Not sur e about some thing you have‌just ask! S crapster is a New York State DEC approved FREE drop off location for business or personal c omputer, monitor, television, printer (and cartridges), and all other electronics recycling. Please note that for our customers we usually can pick up these items for FREE, depending upon quantity and your location, saving you time and expense (call for details). Our other ser vices include very affordable fee based apartment or estat e clean outs and general hauling (old furnitur e, yard waste, household items and garbage). We would like to thank all of our existing and past cust omers for helping us grow and expand into our new warehouse at 2622 7th Avenue, Building 54A in Watervliet, NY. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call us at (518) 505-5055 or toll free (855) SCRAPSTER. Visit our website at www. scrapster.com for news, tips and information about recycling.
Jewelry by
DonCook Service ~ Quality ~ Artistry
Top Prices Paid for Your Gold & Silver
286-2665 What People are Saying About Don Cook....
“His work is impeccable� “Great selection & pricing� Corner of Route 4 & Agway Drive, North Greenbush Open Mon 10-4, Tues, Wed & Fri 10-6, Thurs 10-8, Sat 10-2 6
MARCH 2012
THE CAPITAL REGION’S PREMIER
FREE - NO COST
SCRAP METAL REMOVAL/ RECYCLING SERVICE anything metal ~ large/small appliances ~ wire ~motors ~ tools ~ sheds ~ batteries ~ bicycles ~ computers ~ televisions ~ all electronics We also Offer Reasonably Priced Clean Out and Debris Removal Services
Call Us at 505-5055 Residential * Commerical * Insured “Don’t Worry....We Can Take It!�
www.scrapster.com
FREE New York State DEC Approved Electronics Recycling Location
Steven & Teresa Aborist Landscaper
‡ 6WXPS 5HPRYDOV ‡ )LUHZRRG ‡ Pruning ‡ &DEOLQJ ‡ 6WRUP &OHDQXS
Â&#x2021; 0XOFKLQJ &KRSSLQJ Â&#x2021; %XFNHW 7UXFN 7UHH 5HPRYDO Â&#x2021; /DQGVFDSH 'HVLJQ Â&#x2021; <DUG &OHDQXSV
30 YEARS EXPERTISE
479-0729
ATES
FOR
ESTIM FREE E REMOVAL IGN TRE CAPE DES S LAND AND
86 5W 1DVVDX Â&#x2021; ZZZ &DSLWDO6DZPLOO FRP
HAPPY ST. PATRICKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
DAY
J
P
Artful Things Antiques ~ Jewelry ~ Pottery & More A Wonderful New Shop & Gallery
Handcrafted Bartops & Mantles installation available
OpenTues -Fri 10-6 & Sat 10-3
479-0729 ~ 4119 US Rt. 20, Nassau (at Capital Saw Mill) Although I do believe we have been extremely fortunate with the mild Winter we have had, I'm sure most of us can agree we are ready for SPRING......New Beginnings, Warmer Days and Simple Decorating.... We recently just got back from a huge trade show which featured many new FUHDWLYH DQG LQVSLUDWLRQDO LGHDV :H ZHUH DEOH WR ÂżQG PDQ\ QHZ GHVLJQV DQG trends that focus on the days ahead. I love seeing the variety of talent . We truly are surrounded by so much talent including those of you who enter throught our doors. We will be busy in the up coming weeks preparing for our new designs by receiving daily arrivals of product. I encourage you to stop in. See whats new and FRESHEN up your decor for Spring. As I mentioned in last months issue that Krafts by Kim is For Sale and we have certainly received my leads on those of you wishing to make a dream become a reality. Please remember my heart is still in it and my love for all of you will never go away. I would love the opportunity to discuss the details further on such an amazing journey and on how you too can make your dreams come true.... Last but not least, I wanted to let all of you know that my son returned back to the United States safely from Turkey after his 6 month deployment. We were able to see him for a few days. To say I was the HAPPIEST mom alive would truly be an understatement. Thank you to all of you for your love and support. I couldn't have done it with out all of you. I am looking forward to seeing you all real soon at a place where DREAMS DO COME TRUE.... HAPPY SPRING....
www.kraftbykim.com
STORE HOURS: Wed. & Fri. 10-5:30 / Thursday 10-6/ Saturday 10-4 / Sunday 11-3 Closed Monday & Tuesday
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
7
LANDSCAPING TIPS to Get Your Lawn in Shape from A-Z Landingscaping AZ Landscaping is locally owned and operated by Steve Noel of Schodack. Noel combines an artistic touch with the extensive knowledge involved in building comlex projects such as water features, walkways and retaining walls. He says the result is always one-of-a-kind because each property is unique. His goal is to bring a homeowner’s ideas into reality. Noel is committed to working within the budget of the home-owner so that they can have the look they desire without going over what they are willing to spend. More examples of his work may be found at WWW. AZLANDSCAPING.COM
T I P S
1. 2. 3. 4.
Rake or dethatch all dead grass clippings that are built up on the top of the root system. Aerate the lawn to allow water and nutrients to access the root system. Overseed the lawn with a good sun and shade seed mixture (available at Becker’s Farm Nursery) Apply slow release nitrogen-based fertilizer known as “turf builder” to strengthen existing root system (Late March, early April, when fersithium bloom) 5. Do not mow to less 3 Inches. This will keep the root system shaded and free from burning out. 6. Mow with a sharp blade For more in-depth analysis and PH readings, see your local professionals at Becker’s Farm in East Greenbush to set up a seasonal maintenance program.
A-Z LANDSCAPING Competitive Pricing ~ Fully Insured ~ Free Estimates
Customized to Meet Your Budget & Your Needs Water features Walkways & Lighting Retaining Walls Patios & Driveways Mulching
518-423-0611 WWW.AZLANDSCAPING.COM 8 8
MARCH 2012
AZ Landinscaping Before & After
S G
b
W t
S t o s s t
L m P
W s d m w
) ot
SPRING GARDENING IDEAS by Bernice Leone, East Greenbush With spring fast approaching, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to start thinking about waking up our gardens. Spring is the time to fertilize. Toss all purpose fertilizer around in your gardens. Even if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snow on the ground, you can toss the fertilizer on the snow and when it melts it will help the fertilizer seep into the soil. If you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t clean up in the fall then now is the time. Remove dead branches and leaves. Look around to see if anything needs to be repaired such as a deck or patio. When the soil warms up, clear away any mulch that was laid down for winter protection. Pull out weeds as soon as they start to appear. When the danger of frost passes, plant early spring vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and radishes. Vegetables can be started from seeds. Pansies and Violas will add a burst of spring color. Once the soil temperatures reach between 45-65 degrees summer bulbs like dahlias can be planted. Now is the time to start planning any additions to your garden. Remember to pick plants that suit your site. Annuals can be started from seed so they will be ready to plant in the garden when the weather gets warmer. Happy Gardening. $PMVNCJB 5VSOQJLF 5PXO PG &BTU (SFFOCVTI
XXX CFDLFSTGBSN DPN
477-4163
0QFO %BZT B 8FFL
BECKERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Farm BIRD SEED SALE
throug th thr roug ugh h Ap A pril 29th h!
t 4VFU $BLFT FBDI t *O 4UPDL #JSE 'PPE 0'' FYDMVEFT #MBDLPJM 4VOÄ&#x2DC;PXFS 4FFE
1SFNJVN (BSEFO 4FFET 0''
WOOD PELLET SPECIAL "NCJBODF UPO 8BSN 'SPOU UPO
'3&& %&-*7&3: VOUJM .BSDI UI
Budâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Florist & Greenhouses Time to go GREEN....
Plan Your Garden! Â&#x2021; 6HHGV DUH LQ Â&#x2021; 7KH *UHHQKRXVH LV 6SURXWLQJ Â&#x2021; *HW $OO <RXU *DUGHQLQJ 6XSSOLHV Green Carnations & Flowers for
St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Parties!! 1.5 Miles south of junction rts 9&20 ~ 1614 Route 9, Castleton
)BZ _ 4USBX _ 1SPQBOF _ $PBM _ 8PPE 1FMMFUT _ #JSE 'PPE
732-7563 or 1-800-437-8527 www.budsfloristandghses.com
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
Visit Us on Facebook
9
Your Home Guide Projects & Repair Decorating Automotive Energy Real Estate Cleaning
One Day Decorating
give your room a whole new look in just hours!!!
Same Day ~ Same Stuff ~ NEW LOOK Schedule decorating makeovers using the your appointment furniture and accessories you already own today! tm
COLOR SELECTION ~ RESALE READY ~ STAGING
www.designsensebydiane.comco518-330-3454
rs e n a e l C Crown
Aqua Clean System environmentally safe
1 hour dry cleaning
2 piece suits ~$12.50 Pants ~ $6.10 4 day drape service Plain Dresses ~ $10.50 627 Columbia Tnpk Laundered Shirts $2.15 Expert Tailoring East Greenbush
3 hour shirt laundry
Same Day Service Mon -Fri in by 12 Sat in by 10
(518) 477- 4607 OPEN: Mon-Sat 7am to 6pm
Now Offering Detailing Services! CERTIFIED COLLISION REPAIR CENTER
QUALITY SERVICE
QUALITY Companies SERVICE We Work With All Insurance We Work With All Insurance Companies 766-4004 LIFETIME WARRANTY WE HAVE RENTAL CARS 766-4004 PICK UP & DELIVERY TOWING
Lifetime Warranty Rt.Available 20, Nassau, 3½mi. East of 9&20 Jct. Now at JETS! Rental Car ~ Pick Up Service ~ Delivery ~ Towing Rt Route 20 Nassau ~ 3 1/2 miles east of 9 & 20 Junction 10
MARCH 2012
Proudly providing residential and commercial services to the Capital District for over 17 years Free Estimates
518-424-0078 Custom Painting Services... t t t t t t t t t
Pressure Cleaning Multi-Color Schemes Drywall Patch and Repair Custom Sprayed Finishes Staining/Varnishing Mildew-Proof Coatings Cabinet Refinishing Deck and Floor Coatings Color Consulting
Licensed & Insured
CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE
Specializing In... t t t t t t t t
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Vinyl Siding Tile & Hardwood Floors Interior & Exterior Painting Laser Leveling Floors New Construction & Additions Windows & Doors Decks, Fences & More
www.aaaseasonsbest.com
locally owned and operated
TJ’s Building & Remodeling Kitchens ~ Baths ~ Basements Sunrooms ~ Home Repair Fully Insured Tom Johnson ~ Owner (518) 331-8955
www.tjsBuildRemod.com “All Your Home’s Needs”
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
11
GOLDKREST FAMILY FARM
FIRE WOOD
Route 9J Rensselaer 365-5969 465-0437
The Schodack SCENE a local blog
Schodack Castleton Everyday News & Events An online publication
http://thescene-thescene.blogspot.com Catherine Sager, Managing Editor (518) 732-0382 catherine.sager@yahoo.com
•C inc th th str
Simply Clean Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning
•R fab ing ily
Residential and Commercial Quality Service at Affordable Prices Fully Insured Senior Discounts 15 years servicing the community David S. Troy, Owner/Operator 1010 Pine Street, Rensselaer, NY
518-479-4176
12
MARCH 2012
Gr th wh us en pr th al rec off Ta ide
•S als yo
FREE PC Cleaning
With Any Other Work
$35 Value
Green Friendly Design by Danielle Morris Showroom Assistant
East Greenbush Window Coverings
by Lorraine Greaney
Green products are designed to be en vironmentally friendly, that means they ar e made without the use of harsh chemicals , which means cleaner air for you. Green design is also about reusing and recycling natural materials in your space to save the environment. Thankfully, Hunter Douglas offers a wide variety of products that are Greenguard Certified, which means they pass thorough testing to be low-emitting. Hunter Douglas also offers a line called Applause Honey C omb Shades that are made from recycled water bottles. East Greenbush Window Coverings also offers an organic cotton line from Carole Fabrics’ subsidiary line Tapestria for your window treatments. Here are some tips and ideas for you to be green in your home décor: • CRAFTY LIGHTING IDEA! One of m y personal favorite ideas to incorporate in your home, is the use of natural mat erials from the outside world. Look for sticks of all different sizes and place them in a ceramic pot with stones, then add white or light blue string lights to them once they are secured. • RE-UPHOLSTER OLD FURNITURE! Are you sick of your old chair fabric but love the woodwork or shape? Reusing and r einventing your old pieces is what eco friendly design is all about. Luckily we offer PLENTY of fabric selection for you to choose from! • SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS! There are a lot of sustainable materials out ther e including c ork, recycled glass, bamboo, etc. Did you know you can use r ecycled glass for your kitchen counter
20% off
customer draperies from our Lafayette and Carole Fabrics line! Offer expires March 31st!
tops and in your bathroom? You can also have floors made out of recycled cork! These are just a f ew suggestions f or “going green” in design, but for more green ideas, check out hgtv.com. · Plants: There are many plants that are good for purifying the air. Here are a few that are low maintenance and will add a touch of bringing the outside in: • Jade Plant • P eace Lily • Philodendr on • Lucky Bamboo • C ast Iron Plant • M other-in-law’s tongue • Venus Fly Traps • A frican Violets • Hibiscus • Amaryllis • Paperwhite These are some green design tips just t o name a f ew. Remember: recycle, reuse, reinvent! It feels good to do our part for making the world a little bit cleaner and greener, doesn’t it? Try it out. And above all else, Happy Decorating! For more inspirational ideas, please stop by East Greenbush Window Coverings today and we’ll get you started in the right direction! East Greenbush Window Coverings is located at 568 Columbia Turnpike; 477-9025; open M-F 9-5:30 & Sat 10-2; www.EastGreenbushWindowCoverings.com
®
568 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 8B East Greenbush, NY
FREE Ultraglide with purchase of select HunterDouglas products until March 31st, 2012.
www.eastgreenbushwindowcoverings.com
518-477-9025
store hours: Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat 10-2
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
13
Spring Bridal
ac m fe
If they say it Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be Done. Bring It Here.
Jewelry Repair Center 1629 Columbia Turnpike Schodack, NY
S &
4 Bench Jewelers on Premises
477-6555
Custom Designs, Laser Welding, Eyeglass Repair, Ring Sizing, Stone Setting, Diamonds, Jewelry Sales, Costume Jewelry Repair
ly Re th it W Sa wo is Fe is us ou in
na se bo bo an m to
fo wa Th 14
MARCH 2012
s
HIDDEN GEMS Local Businesses You May Have Missed
SERENITY DAY SPA & SALON
1523 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY
If you are like me, your typical day is jammed with activities centered around your family, like making meals, doing laundr y, cleaning the house , chauffeuring kids, the list never seems to end. Who doesn’t need a break from the stress of daily life? When it comes to local spas and salons in Rensselaer County our next ‘Hidden Gem’ is one of the best places to be pampered and escape, even if it is only for a morning. When you enter the doors at Serenity Day Spa and Salon in East Greenbush, it is like ent ering another world. There is a peaceful ambiance and the place is filled with sunlight and warmth ev en on a c old February day. In the spacious windo w-filled foyer is the front counter opposite a big c omfy couch. There is usually a tea service and a little tr eat like chocolates laid out on the coffee table, along with magazines. It is nothing but “SERENE” as the name implies. Serenity features a hair salon on one side of the foyer, a nail room on the other, with spa tr eatment rooms on the second floor. The spa offers massages, facials, and unique body treatments such as salt glo w, seaweed wraps and body detox. The salon offers hair cuts and styling, waxing and even eyelash extensions. They also sell Bar e Minerals makeup and handcrafted jewelry, making it a great place to buy a gift as well. I r ecently had the chanc e to have a facial with S erenity’s esthetician Amber. I have very sensitive skin but Amber knew exactly which products to use to avoid any irritation. It was more than just a facial, as it included a light massage of m y shoulders, hands and f eet. My favorite part was the heated table and heated mitts for my hands and feet. I lit erally felt like a little baby wrapped up for a nap. When I left my skin was soft and supple and I was so relaxed I had a hard time jumping back into reality. Thankfully, there is a relaxation room where guests may
Serenity Day Spa & Salon Owner, Kelly Hart
go after their treatment and take as little or as long as they wish to sit in a quiet peaceful place before rushing off. Serenity’s owner, Kelly Hart started the business in 2004. At the time she was a stay-athome mother of three, helping out with her husband ’s business (Schodack Auto, located next door). She had been in the salon business as a stylist for many years and opening her o wn place just seemed like the next step. Everything fell into place. “I always wanted to create a place where people could come and f eel pampered and r elaxed and lea ve feeling better. I didn’t want people to feel intimidated, “she said. Kelly has visited spas around the world and is alwa ys trying out new places so she can learn new things . She says part of her suc cess is understanding the cust omer’s perspective and what makes them happy. Even though I didn’t want my morning of pampering to end, I eventually did have to leave the relaxation room and go back to my real life. At least now I know where to go right here in town when I can’t jet off to Santorini! For more information call 479-5680 or visit www.serenitydayspaandsalon.net
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
15
!
frostwolfmagic.net
6LPSO\
ASTROLOGY Natal Charts Horoscopes
7D[HV $FFRXQWLQJ 7UDLQLQJ
$FFRXQWLQJ %RRNNHHSLQJ 6HUYLFHV //&
Senior Saturdays $IIRUGDEOH 3URIHVVLRQDO 7D[
Also Providing Home-based tax services for the home bound and disabled
TAROT READINGS by The Skywright ~ Richard Morell 518-441-2876
Discounts for Seniors $FFRXQWLQJ DQG %RRNNHHSLQJ 6HUYLFHV Every week in February & March *please call to inquire
6HQLRU 6WXGHQW 'LVFRXQWV $YDLODEOH
LQIR#VLPSO\DFFRXQWLQJ ERRNNHHSLQJVYFV FRP ::: 6,03/<$&&2817,1* %22..((3,1*69&6 &20 &ROXPELD 7XUQSLNH 32 %R[ (DVW *UHHQEXVK 1<
OUR TOWNE
Connecting Your Community To Advertise Please Call 518-641-9330 or email: debbie@ourtownerensco.com www.ourtownerensco.com
Chrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Burner Service, LLC
G H
Specializing in oil burner service for over 20 years.
477-2220 PO Box 550 East Greenbush 16
MARCH 2012
fully insured
Jeffers Law Firm Buying or Selling Your Home? Call for a price quote Handling wills & estates since 1988 Personal attention to all documents Reasonable fees No extra charge for house calls 10 Chaundry Lane Averill Park, NY vjeffers@nycap.rr.com 518-674-0000 Valerie Jeffers, Esq.
www.jefferslawfirm.com un kend f e h t e wee h Join on t
n o i g n Le
a c i r e Am
Post
ay Frid
1231
Nite
k0 aem o a r Ka m - 12:0 blic! y
Ever
p Pu 8:00 to the n Ope
quets
or Ban r Hall f
rve o25u0 persons e s e R ckley up to k and
oo dings for Ginny Bro To BW ed tessâ&#x20AC;? and ur â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hos call o
7.4278 2 5 . 8 1 5
s
Menu
ost.
t the P
ble a availa
200 Columbia Turnpike,
East Greenbush, NY
518.462.7006 Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
17
CASTLETON PUBLIC LIBRARY CALENDAR Learn about M icrosoft Office: Monday, March 12 @ 6 P M (Registration required) Learn the basics or c ome with specific questions. Please r egister for this b y calling or emailing the library because ther e is limit ed space. Lego Club! Meets the first Monday of the month @ 6 PM. Join us to build with Legos. Put a set t ogether or cr eate your own Lego masterpiece! Story Hour Join us ev ery Thursday @ 11:30 AM for stories and craf ts. All ages ar e welcome to attend. Learn about M icrosoft Office: Monday, March 12 @ 6 P M (Registration required) Learn the basics or c ome with spe cific questions. Please r egister for this by calling or emailing the library because there is limited space. Financial Planning Seminar: Tuesday April 10th @ 6 P M (Register by calling or emailing the libr ary). Seminar topics will include: a general understanding of in vesting, strategies to limit risk in y our retirement portfolio as w ell as t echniques for generating income in r etirement. Please join us for this educational seminar . Richard L. Lane is the Vice PresidentInvestments and an A ccredited Investment Fiduciary® with M adison Wealth Managers. Teen Movie Nights Join us on Thursday, April 12 @ 6 PM for a New Teen Movie! Popcorn will be served. Library Board of Trustees The regular monthly meetings of the library Board of Trustees is scheduled for the thir d Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. on the second floor of Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend. The Castleton Public Library, 85 S. Main Street, Castleton-on-Hudson, N.Y. 12033 Visit us online: www.castletonpubliclibrary.org PH: 518.732.0879 Email: director@castletonpubliclibrary.org
18
MARCH 2012
ASTROLOGY Notes from the Skywright by Richard Morell
ARIES (March 20 – April 21) This period bef ore your birthday prepares a rather glamorous sense of the present for you, charging up the area of your hidden resources and int ernal enemies. Question y ourself when self-image seems either totally grand or abso lutely debased. TAURUS (April 22 – M ay 20) Jupit er sits in y our sign for a good chunk of the year, and things look pretty good fr om where you stand. F riends and long-range visions g ive an added boost of energy this month, though be wat chful for the t oo good t o be true. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) The energies in the skies make these da ys just a tad g reyer for Gemini at the present moment with the South Node sitting in your sign for another f ew months. A ctivities that normally give you lots of pleasure seem inst ead to sap your energy, but this will pass. C areer issues point toward unconscious deceptions.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22) While Pluto sits oppo site your sign and exerts a harsh influence upon y our significant partnerships, this proves to be a helpful month to Cancer. The Pisces window can be quit e lucky for you, especially where legal matt ers and global communications are concerned. LEO (July 23 – A ugust 22) Lions and Lionesses ’ big-
gest concerns this month look to recklessness regarding the pocketbook . Resist temptations to overspend. Sadly, this is a rather lengthy transit, sta ying into early summer, so be on guard for all sor ts of she nanigans where both personal and shar ed finances are concerned.
VIRGO (August 23 – S eptember 20) M ars transits your sign for a few months this year, and it ’s a time to constantly check y our compass. I t feels like y ou make amazing pr ogress, only to discover you’re speeding toward scoring for an opponent. Sig nificant partnerships hold a lot of energy this month, LIBRA (September 21 – October 20) H idden forces and self-undoing can f eel like they’re on o verdrive this month, Libra. The stars counsel acceptance of this unpleasantness and turning your attentions to what you can change in yourself. Clues may appear in the workplace, where coworkers seem to operate under a spell of some sort. SCORPIO (October 21 – November 21) F riends might appear to be headed f or crashes this month, so be ready to minister to their wounds. This is a good time to open up t o relaxation and t o let the inner child spiritual expr essions. Avoid risky investments. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – Dec ember 21) The past few months have been
a rewarding test of endurance for you Archers. You may be sensing r ewards that have a k armic feel to them. Build upon these foundations for the future. CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) A gainst the backdrop of transf ormation that is C apricorn’s lot for the nex t several years, March, 2012 specifically highlights a glamor ous awareness of the neighborhood and of sibling r elationships. These take on spiritual dimensions.
AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Neptune ’s exit from your sign comes as a r elief, but as it ’s entered Pisces, Water Bearers need to be vig ilant about their financial picture for the duration. Shar ed finances might also seem to have their distrac tions at present, and A quarius needs to be pr epared for the extremes of micromanagement and neglec t in this area. PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Happy Birthday, Pisces! The New M oon in your sign portends quite a mystical period. Depending upon your present spiritual fitness, the world may appear deliriously wonderful or ab ysmally bleak. Be sure to involve others in your awareness of r eality, as well as y our powerful intuition. Richard Morell is a local astrologer and tarot reader, His website is frostwolfmagic.net. frostwolf223@gmail.com, phone: 518-441-2876.
urou ds to se e.
Big or Small...Your Pup Deserves Pampering!!
Shampoodle!
22 he maot rs, lly us hreon
– e’s es eners ut for fiem ns us for nin
– ay, in ea dpiray erBe in ty, ful
s et.
U-Do-It just $13 Just bring your dirty dog everything else is supplied!
Leave the mess with us!
We Will Do It!
We will wash your dog in an hour or less.
(Appt. necc. we only do a pup at a time)
GROOMING
For pups that need a trim or full cut Your Pup Will Look Amazing! Appt. necc.- Cert.Groomer does 1 dog at a time only-
No kennels - No Stress! Ready in less than 2 hours Delmar has added a NEW Grooming Salon!
Play Group for puppies or good dogs
Thursday at 6pm. $6 per session or pay as you go! Call Shampoodle at 371-6600 We’ve had a fun day at Doggie Day Camp!!!
Training Facility
Have your pup as tired as you are after a long day at work but they’ll be tired after having fun all day! Affordable * Supervised Play* Convenient just off exit 8 of the Northway. Lots of room to play - walks outside. Full or 1/2 days Do it Yourself & We Do It Hours Are...
Training & Classes for Every Pup Young or old, experienced or not Whether you want to train your pup or just have fun...our trainers can help!
Call Shampoodle at 371-6600
Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat 9-5, Sun 10 - 5 (Grooming starts at 8 am)
266 Delaware Ave Delmar 368-3260 behind Finishing Touch – next to CVS
Also Plaza 8 1536 Crescent Rd. Clifton Park 371-6600 just off exit 8 of the Northway in the plaza with CVS
www.shampoodledogwash.com
Shampoodle!
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
19
Community Calendar ~ March 2012 1st Friday Of Albany 3/2/2012 5:00:00 P M, The Upstate Artists Guild 1st F riday Of AlbanyAll seasons Dat es: Repeats every month on the F riday until Fri Aug 03 2012 . : 5pm A ges: All A ges The Upstate Artists Guild 247 Lark Str eet (518) 694-3090 1stfridayalbanyorg inf o@upstateartistsguild.org no contact name provided 2012 Hannaford Kidz Expo 3/30/2012 10:00:00 AM, Empire State Plaza Cost: FREE AD MISSION The 2012 Hannaf ord Kidz Expo will fill the C onvention Center with thousands of children and their families f or a jam-packed da y of ent ertainment, retail sales, information, activities and fun. Acoustic Open Mic 3/1/2012 7:00:00 PM, Renehan's Pub and Grill A coustic Open M ic every Thursday starting at 7:00. Hosted by John Morse. Allscapes - Art Exhibition 3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM, The Arts Center of the C apital Region A contemporary landscapes exhibition by artists Emma C opley, Ginger Ertz, Ray Felix, Catherine Minnery, Kris Corso Tolmie and Tanya Zal. Allscapes explor es all forms of the term, landscape from the imag ined to plein air through painting, photography, printmaking, and sculptur e. Contact: Lauren Hittinger Email: Lauren@artscenteronline.org Phone: (518) 273-0552 (518) 273-0552Lauren@artscenteronline.org AMERICAN RED CROSS BABYSITTING 3/3/2012 8:00:00 AM, Algonquin Middle School on Saturday, March 3rd, from 9AM to 4PM at the Algonquin . For students in g rades 6 and up. Cost is $70pp. Please call Br enda Vermilya to register at 701-4290 or 674-8509. Amphibian Monitoring Training 20
MARCH 2012
3/1/2012 6:00:00 P M, Grafton Lakes & Cherry Plain State Parks Learn how to identify local frogs and toads by their calls and sign up to be a North American Amphibian Monitoring Program citizen scientist! Training is free and your efforts will help pr otect declining amphibian populations. A t Shaver Nature Ctr, 194 Shaver Pond Rd in Graf ton. Email Ben f or info: FrogandToad@gw.dec.state.ny.us
parking. As a special dinner/ theater package enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner at 6pm before the 8pm show at The Arlington House, West Sand Lake, on the Fridays and Saturdays of the show weekends for just $35 pp.(includes dinner and sho w). Call 518-674-1880 f or dinner/ theater reservations. Contact: Debra Roy email: info@slca-ctp. org Phone: 518-674-2007
Backyard Maple Sugaring 3/17/2012 10:00:00 AM, Grafton Lakes State Park Celebrate the first day of Spring with some sw eetness of the season! Brief Video, demonstration of Syruping, and sampling of syrup for all! $2/ person, $5/ family. Meets at Park Office.
Comedy Open Mic at Flavour Cafe 3/28/2012 7:00:00 PM, Flavour Cafe Comedy Open M ic every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 Come enjoy the laughs.
BREAKFAST (all you can eat) 3/18/2012 8:00:00 AM, West Sand Lake Fire Dept Hall All you can eat M onthly BREAFAST Fundraiser. $7.00 A dults, $4.00 Children 5-12, F ree Under 5. E ggs,homefries,sausage acon,pancakes,blueberr y p a n c a k e s , f r e n c h toast,cinnamon french toast st icks,toast,jelly,applesauce,fruit cocktail,coffee, tea,apple juiceand orange juice. Contact: Dennis Sinnott Email: WSLDEN@AOL.COM Phone: 283-2252 WSLDEN@ AOL.COM Circle Theatre Players presents Enchanted April March 16 - 25? 3/16/2012 8:00:00 P M, Sand Lake Center for the Ar ts Circle Theatre Players presents Enchanted April on M arch 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8pm and M arch 18 and 25 at 2:30pm at the Sand Lake C enter for the Ar ts. Welcome Spring and escape t o Italy where laughter blossoms, friendship grows, and unex pected love takes r oot. Tickets are $16 and reservations can be made at 518-674-2007 or www. slca-ctp.org. The Center is lo cated at 2880 N Y 43, A verill Park, NY. There is plenty of free
Craft Fair 3/3/2012 10:00:00 AM, Rensse laer Jr. Sr. High School. 30+ vendors. Jew elry, purses, artwork, crochet items, avon, tupperware, party of gold (bring unwanted gold for purchase), and much more!. Terri Burns Email: renss2012@gmail.com renss2012@gmail.com Sand Lake Center for the Arts presents Irish Step Dancers on M arch 4†3/4/2012 1:00:00 PM, Sand Lake C enter for the Arts Sundays at the Center present I rish Step Dancing with members of the F arrell School of Irish Dance on March 4 at 1:30pm. $5pp . Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day just a couple of weeks early with this very special oppor tunity. The Sand Lake C enter for the Ar ts is located at 2880 NY 43, Averill Park, NY. C all 518-674-2007 or visit www.slca-ctp.org for reservations and more information. Contact: Debra Roy Email: info@slca-ctp.org Phone: 518-674-2007 Emish, Celtic Rock Band Concert 3/1/2012 8:00:00 P M, Irish American Center Hiberian Hall Emish, Celtic Rock band, will be
in concert at the Ancient Or der of Hibernian Hall. $15 c over (cash only)Email aohc oncerts@ gmail.com to reserve tickets. Every Quilt Tells A Story 3/2/2012 12:00:00 AM, Alban y Heritage Area Visitors Center EXTENSION OFFERS EVENING GARDENING CLASSES 3/28/2012 8:00:00 AM, 61 State Street in Troy, starting at 7 P M. The classes include: “Using Art In The Garden” on February 23; “Blueberries: Super Fruit, Super Easy” on March 6; “How To Make Tufa Stone Planters And C ast Leaves” on M arch 22; “Sorting Out The Scales And Needles – Plant Identification” on April 5; “Roses: You Can Grow Them” on April 12; “Terrariums: Miniature Worlds Under Glass ” on April 26; and “Pest Management With The Environment In Mind” on May 9. For registration information, please call M arcie at (518) 272-4210 or email mmp74@ cornell.edu. FLUX - Art Exhibition 3/31/2012 12:00:00 AM, The Arts Center of the C apital Region An exhibition b y artists Gina Occhiogrosso, Kathleen Thum and C ein Watson. Email: Lauren@artscenteronline.org Phone: 518) 273-0552Laur en@ artscenteronline.org Full Moon Snowshoes Hike 3/3/2012 6:00:00 P M, Grafton Lakes & Cherry Plain State Parks 6pm Meets at park office. Stroll the park’s paths and look for animal sign by moonlight! Please bring your own flashlight $3/ person, Includes snowshoe rental. Registration required 279-1155 Reserve MARCH 10th....Pizza & Wi ng Night East Greenbush Fire Dept. Phillips Rd Park Station 4:30 - 7:30 Phone Orders Accepted after 2:00 477-6503...479-4168 Bake Sale
Ja 3/ Th To bu Ja de ex
Ki Ou 10 of 46
Le 3/4 Mu Co co do So ne se cre he
Th 3/ Ma TR Clu th Ce me ing Hy Eig att
M 3/3 se Re m Th 30 at to Dr
der ver s@
ny
NG
ate M. Art 23; per ke ast ng – 5; on ure pril th on ma8) 4@
he Rests en ail:
n@
on ks oll nse 3/ oe ed
Jane’s Addiction 3/2/2012 8:30:00 P M, Palace Theater Cost: $29.50 - $49.50 Touring behind their new album ‘’The Great Escape Ar tist’’ Jane’s Addiction is poised t o deliver an immersive theatrical experience as only they can.
more information, please call 436-8561, X3104.” Tickets are $7.00. F or more information, please call 4368561, X3104.”
Peppertree Rescue Adoption Clinic 3/30/2012 10:00:00 AM, Country Acres Farm and P et Kid Stuff: Great Toys from Center Cost: Free Dog A dopOur Childhood 3/1/2012 tion Clinic Play For All 10:00:00 AM, Alban y Institute 3/3/2012 10:00:00 AM, Alban y of History & Ar t Phone: (518) Institute of History and Art 463-4478 Sand Lake Center for the Arts Legally Blonde The Musical presents Kim and Reggie Harris 3/4/2012 8:00:00 P M, Cohoes in concert on Mar. 10? Music Hall Cost: $15-$20 3/10/2012 8:00:00 P M, Sand College sweetheart and home- Lake Center for the Arts coming queen Elle Woods doesn’t take no f or an answer. Sand Lake Center for the Arts So when her bo yfriend, War- presents in c oncert Kim and ner, dumps her f or someone Reggie Harris on M arch 10 at serious, Elle puts do wn the 8pm. K im and Regg ie Harris credit card, hits the books, and are dynamic and superbly talheads for Harvard Law School! ented traditional folk performers, whose captivating stage The Ilium Literary Club presence and unique harmo 3/2/2012 2:00:00 P M, Troy nies has earned the r espect Masonic Community Center and love of audiences throughTROY — The Ilium Literary out the US, C anada and E uClub meets at 2 p.m. March 2 at rope for over 30 y ears. Tickets the Troy Masonic Community are $16 and r eservations can Center, 39 Brunswick Road. Im- be made at 518-674-2007 or mediately following the meet- www.slca-ctp.org. The Center ing, guest speaker will be Herb is located at 2880 NY 43, Averill Hyde, author of “College and Park, NY. There is plenty of free Eighth.” Guests are welcome to parking. attend. Contact: Debra Roy Email: Info@slca-ctp.org Musical: ‘Once on this Island’ Phone: 518-674-2007 3/30/2012 12:00:00 AM, Rensselaer High School “Come see Sand Lake Kiwanis Weekly Rensselaer High School’s grand Meeting - Be a part! musical production of “Once. 3/26/2012 6:35:00 P M, LakevThe performances are March iew Inn Contact: Pat 30 and 31 at 7pm and April 1 Email: Conif1989@aol.com at 2pm in the school ’s audi- Phone: Lane LaneC onif1989@ torium at 25 Van Rensselaer aol.com Drive. Tickets are $7.00. F or
St Patricks Day Celebration at Uncle Marty’s3/17/2012 9:00:00 AM, Uncle M arty’s is the only plac e in Rensselaer County to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! K ick off Spring Training with the F irst Annual K ilt Run Activities for the kids start with the Shamrock Shuffle Race at noon followed by a Shamr ock Hunt and a Kids Craft Tent. You will be ent ertained by a liv ely performance by the Dancers of An Clar. They will be f ollowed by the Back 40 Band! What’s more Irish Marty -marty@justsayuncle.com
The first 200 people t o register get a fr ee T-shirt. Register by going to http://www.areep. com/online_reg/registration. php?eventID=153. Troy Waterfront Market 3/3/2012 9:00:00 AM, Troy Waterfront Market Over 60 v endors come together each week offering fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, baked goods, breads, jams, soaps, and some ar tisan items. Join us for breakfast or lunch! Shop, Dine, Gather - Enjoy! Visit us at www.troymarket.org! http:// www.troymarket.org
“March 17. FREE LABYRINTH WALK, facilitated by Jae Way & Connie Barber of OneSelf. Stop by anytime between 10 am & 2 pm at 1st Unit ed Presbyterian Church, 1915 5th Ave. Troy. Experience meditation/ relaxation in motion. For more information, visit oneself cares. com or call Jae at 518-4620017.”
The Castleton Kiwanis Club will be selling chicken barbecue dinners on Sunda y, March 18, t o raise monies f or its community service pro‘The Izzy Bag’ Class grams. The cost of the dinners 3/3/2012 10:30:00 AM, The Joy- is $9.00, and the dinners ma y ful Quilter Cost: $40.00 be picked up from 12:00 noon Learn to make ‘’The Izzy Bag’’ to 5:00 P.M. at the C astleton from the patt ern designer, Volunteer Fire Company in Marlous Carter, in a f our hour Castleton. For more informaclass. tion or t o order the dinners , call 732-2225. Walk-ins are Third Annual Saints Race for welcomed. Red Cross 3/6/2012 12:00:00 AM, The Crossings LOUDONVILLE — The American Red “LADIES ... SAVE THESE Cross Club of Siena is holding DATES. Sep. 21, 6:30 pm its third annual Saints R ace for - 11:00 am, Sep. 22, 2012. the Red Cr oss to support lo“Dreaming Our Compascal disaster relief at 10:30 a.m. sionate Spirit,” a Women’s April 15 at The Crossings Park Dreamtime Gathering, of Colonie, 580 Alban y Shaker facilitated by Jae Way, HoRoad. The race is an official 5K listic Life Coach. More info or 2 mile walk that is timed . at oneselfcares.com.”
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
21
Irish Paris Jose by Ir Satu Man selae Deli and will or m Offic
March Happenings
East GreenbushC GreenbushCommunity ommunity Library www.eastgreenbushlibrary.org Friends of the East Greenbush Library OPEN HOUSE Saturday, March 31 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Stop in t o find out about this great organization and ho w you might be able t o get involved to help suppor t the library. We would love to meet you! Refreshments will be served.
AmeriCorps. The brief training program will t each you what to do in the ev ent that you are present when someone needs CPR. It is a non- certificate program that sho ws participants how to perform hands-only CPR as w ell as easy and effective compressions that c ould improve the chanc e of sa ving a life.
Free Adult Programs Celtic Harp Concert Sunday, March 4, 2:00 p.m. Start celebrating St. P atrick’s Day early with the lovely sound of the Celtic harp and a poem or two, all performed by Donna Adams-Profeta. This program is made possible b y the F riends of the East Gr eenbush Community Library.
Official Seals – Public Symbols with Hidden Meanings Sunday, March 18, 2:00 p.m. Village, town, and city seals almost always tell a story, but in a shorthand way that is not always obvious. Join Marvin Bubie to discover just how much information about Henry Hudson and our Dut ch heritage can be found in them.
Greenbush Garden Club presentsLyme Disease: Knowledge Is Power Tuesday, March 6, 6:30 p.m.Humor and scienc e fill this talk by Marthanne Linacre, Master Gardener for Cornell Cooperative Extension. She will teach you how to avoid a tick bite and ho w to protect yourself and y our family with up-to-date information.
New York’s Participation in the Civil War Sunday, March 25, 2:00 pm Michael Barrett, local historian and Civil War lecturer will speak on New York 's Participation in the Civil War. One hundred and fifty years ago our nation was engaged in a g reat Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, over 46,000 New York enlisted soldiers in the US Arm y died in battle , from wounds, diseases or other war related causes - more than US Army soldiers fr om any other state. Mr. Barrett's lecture will include r esearch into the lives of local enlist ed soldiers from East Greenbush and North Greenbush . P resented by the Gr eenbush Historical Society **Please pre-register for this free adult programs by calling the library at 477-7476 or visiting our w ebsite: www.eastgreenbushlibrary.org ***Free Wednesday Night Movie: MARCH 28 @ 6:30 pm – Moneyball
Spotlight Players Play Reading of You’ve Got Hate Mail by Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore Sunday, March 11, 2:00 p.m. Love “bytes” all when an ex tramarital affair goes horribly wrong, thanks t o a juic y email left sitting on a deskt op. The story is t old entirely in e mails from laptops, although the play still manages t o have an unforgettable chase sc ene – thanks t o Blackberries and iPhones. Directed by Jeff Hocking
Citizen CPR – The Power to Save a Life Tuesday, March 13 at 7:00 pm Children’s Programs: Presented by Nick Walion of Drop In Family Storytimes 22
MARCH 2012
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED Thursdays @ 11:00 am OR 6:30 pm from March 1 – March 29 (no storytimes March 15) Saturdays @ 11:00 am March 3 - March 31 Book Groups Mother/Daughter Book Gr oup @ 7:00 pm Girls and their mothers (or g randmas, aunts, etc.) are invited. 5th g raders and up. Monday, March 5: Violet Raines almost got struck by lightning by Danette Haworth Cookies N’ Books @ 4:15 pm 2nd & 3r d graders. Beginning chapter book r eaders are invited to enjoy book discussions and crafts. Tuesday, March 6: Marvin Redpost: Kidnapped at Bir th? by Louis Sachar NEW * Saturday Book Club* Saturday, March 24 @ 1:00 pm Join us f or a new book club where kids can get t ogether and talk about books! There will also be snacks and ac tivities. For 4–6 g raders. Call the library to check on the book for the month. 1,2,3 Play With Me! (Parent/ Child Workshop) Mondays, March 5 – April 2 from 10:00 - 11:15 am (children ages 18 months - 3 years old) Children enjoy free play time while parents and car egivers have a chance to chat and get acquainted. Each w eek a different community resource specialist (such as a nutritionist, a speech therapist, et c.) is available to answer any questions parents may have. There will also be an ar t activity and circle time! Spac e is limit ed. Please register.
10 Community Way East Greenbush 477-7476 TEEN TECH WEEK: Make Your Own Video Games Thursday, March 8 @ 5:30 pm Registration opens 2/20 & closes @ 9:00 pm on 3/7. Hunger Games Party Saturday, March 10 @ 12:30 pm Join us for an afternoon of [non-lethal] Hunger G ames to see if y ou have what it takes to be the 2012 champion. M ay the odds be ever in your favor! Space is limited. Please REGISTER IN ADVANCE. TAG (Teen Advisory Group) & Jr. Friends 3:30 pm Wednesday, 3/7: Plan teen events, suggest YA materials to buy, and then have a snack as payment! Animangamania! Club 3:30 pm Wednesday, March 14: Watch anime. Eat popcorn. BYOB Book Club Wednesday @ 3:30 pm Join us in the Teen Area for cookies and a book discussion. Bring Your Own Book – or at least be ready to talk about it! March 21: Hunger G ames read-alikes Teen Takeover @ 2:30 pm F ridays: March 2, 9, 16 & 30 Laptops, video games, and a room just for Teens FREE COMPUTER CLASSES Ask the Expert – Drop In Thursdays, March 8, 15 & 22 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm Downloading Audiobookfrom the Library Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. , please bring your laptop. Introduction to Word Saturday, March 24 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
The Library Board of Trustees Open to All Teens entering Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30 pm Grades 2-12
EX &
By
Th 9/ Inc he bo sp
on
in ou wi In Wo ab ha ex
ist ma cit wa
lig
Book Review by Lynn Catelotti
Good Buy Books
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE
es m os-
30 of to kes ay or! IS-
&
an a
4:
for on. at t! es
By Jonathan Safran Foer Thomas Schell was of the thousands that perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close deals with its direct effect on the family that New and Gently Read Books he left behind. His 9 year old son Oskar is a highly intelligent 330 Columbia Tpke. 479-BOOK (2665) boy. He creates jewelry and inventions to keep people safe, speaks some French, corresponds with Stephen Hawking, and plays the tambourine. Oskar also has a secret. Sent home from school on the day of the attacks, he finds several messages from his father calling from one of the World Trade Towers on the answering machine. Oskar replaces the phone and keeps the messages to himself. In an effort to stay close, he often goes into his father’s closet to be among his things. In a vase on the highest shelf, he finds a key in an envelope. There is a cryptic one-word message on the front of the envelope. Oskar uses every weekend to see if he can find out anything about his father and/or the key . Mr. Black, a neighbor and old war r eporter (who hasn't left his apartment since his wife died) is so taken by Oskar's quest that he agrees to accompany him on his journeys around town. In addition to Oskar’s story, we learn about his grandparents. His grandfather, Thomas Schell Sr., was a teenager in Dresden during World War II. He f ell in love with a g irl named Anna, and af ter the firebombing of Dresden, he'd lost her, all of his family , and the ability to speak. He has the w ords "Yes" and "No" tattooed on his hands, so he can answ er questions by showing the appropriate hand. He writes messages for conversation, often pointing to the same sentences over and over. He's spent his life writing, trying to explain himself and why he is who he is. Oskar's grandmother's life has also been one filled with loss… her family in Dresden, her husband, and then her son in the terrorist attacks. The two stories intertwine, but you will be most compelled by Oskar's story, his frustration with his mother and the new man in her life, (if he’d had the choice, she would have been in the twin towers that day instead of his dad). As he treks around the city Oskar collects photos and drawings including a shot of a body falling fr om one of the towers, which Oskar enlarges to see if it was his dad. Oskar eventually figures out where the key belongs but he also learns a little something about human natur e as well. His intelligence, curiosity, fears, and insights he gains on his quest are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Muddy Paw Prints on the Floor... Muddy Nose Prints on the Door....We Can Help!!!
9, es,
22
m 15 ur
es es-
F AD OTFH TH2I0S12
I 1/ G W 3/3 10M% IN ough
r OO d th GR vali
FREE DE-SHEDDING (For grooming or “We will Wash” appts)
~ Personal 1 on 1 grooming ~ No kennels / no cage drying ~ Pups stay only as long as it takes to be groomed
Shampoodle
Do It Yourself & We Do It Hours Are.... Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat 9-5, Sun 10 - 5 (Grooming starts at 8 am) Snow closings will be same as school closings at Shenendahowa for Clifton Park & Bethlehem for Delmar.
266 Delaware Ave Delmar 368-3260 behind Finishing Touch – next to CVS
Also Plaza 8 1536 Crescent Rd. Clifton Park 371-6600
www.shampoodledogwash.com
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
23
A MESSAGE FROM THE VET ~ Dr. David Stone, DVM
Humor Amid Chaos Two totally unrelated cats c ome into a v et hospital t o be spayed. The cats are IDENTICAL except for a genetic brain disease that makes one of them off balance and spastic since birth. Two doctors spay both cats at the same time . They are somehow switched in recovery. Each goes t o the others home . The next morning the t echnician does her post-sur gical call backs, and the first owner says, “She’s doing alright, I guess …I think the anesthesia hit her pr etty hard because she ’s still flopping around a little.” The next call goes mor e like this,” My God, Dr. Stone is amazing! He ’s fixed my ‘Precious!’, Dr. Stone has fixed my ‘Precious!’-only-- she seems t o have forgotten her name is ‘Precious’” Yes, I was one of the doc tors involved a dozen years ago. Embarrassed phone calls led t o a big r eunion/meeting with the owners bringing kitten photos and sharing stories and having a good laugh at the absur dity of the ev ent . I still see Precious in my practice and she’s as spastic as ever. There have been no further “mix-up’s”. I still see Precious in my practice and she’s as spastic as ever. Little k nown fact--veterinarians are pretty good with a t owel. I could probably wrangle a panther with a beach t owel—or at least distract it or chase it away. So I thought, laying in bed, listening to the scratching/scurrying sounds above my ceiling in my attic. Having had enough, I g rabbed a big fluffy “I can conquer the world” bath towel and got the ladder . Attic access is in my son’s room, by his bed, at the other end of the house . No problem. I’m up and in. Flashlight and towel will scare any varmint, I say. Carefully I traverse each rafter—no point in stepping through the ceiling after all. This flashlight stinks—double AA’s, old…very dim…step, step… I stop to listen…almost sounds like purring…couldn’t be purring…gotta get real close to the corner to see—crouch into the eve…still can’t see the source…maybe if I pull up the insulation—get towel ready, balance…lift---BEES!! Ten million ang ry bees!! Towel=useless. F lashlight=useless. RUN!!—24” steps!! The longest of all runs thr ough the stinging darkness, toward that brilliant whit e square so far a way—then comes the Louganis dive-- the head first, through the hole dive, right onto the bed-- brilliant r oll out/bounce off and exit the bedroom with a slam! M y most beautiful moment of ph ysical dynamics completely unwitnessed. I tried to tell my family how spectacular I’d been, but they w ere distracted by my welting face and hands and neck. Lady tried to convince me that if a dog eats pork meat it’ll die. Said her dad told her that a long time ago . I explained that her dad was probably talking about the dangers of f eeding those splintery spare ribs to a dog. She remained unconvinced until I showed her food ingredient labels that clearly identified pork in the diets. We laughed about it and she was on her way. Now it’s 10 years later. Last week this same lady br ought the same dog 24
MARCH 2012
in for an exam and wanted to discuss home cooking for her dog. I gave her my favorable opinions and went over some basic ingredients she should consider—including pork. “Oh doctor,” she says, “didn’t you know that you can’t feed pork to a dog!” Lady brings in a cat. A very fluffy, white cat. I say, “What a beautiful cat!” She sa ys, “He’s half rabbit.” I sa y, “You have a very cool cat, what’s his name?” She says “Thank you—his name is Theodore, his mother was a cat--but his fa ther was a rabbit. ” I sa y, “It would certainly seem that way, but he’s ALL cat t o me.” She says, “I know he’s half rabbit because he doesn ’t kill our mic e and he will eat salad--with ranch dressing.” I say, “That’s interesting…you know, cats and rabbits are of different species and the genes don’t—“oh, what’s the use, I finished my exam and said , “he’s a very handsome and healthy catrabbit.” I’m in a dog’s will. People tell me that their pets talk t o them. Usually it’s sweet. Sometimes it’s creepy. I’ ve become pretty good at g iving injections over the years. I even have techniques for making them less notic eable—like hand-warming cold injections and using the fr eshest/sharpest needles available, and distrac tion by not telegraphing my actions—keep talking at the same pace and tone, scratch and tug on a dog’s ear while injecting--that kind of stuff. And it w orks! I seldom get ev en a peep of disc omfort from my patients—really! Well, it’s backfired several times—over the years about a dozen clients have accused me of NOT giving an injection when they just watched me give it. Must be h ypnosis. We just keep talking,--even tones, very smooth, bend slightly to pet the dog, scratch the ear and give the shot. Happiness is the only discernible emotion. Then I take off the needle, turn my body and drop it into the sharps container on the shelf behind me . There’s no hesitation or c onsideration—it’s repetitive and smooth. Then I lean down to the trash and dump the syringe . All the while you’ve been talk ing-- telling me about y our uncle…then you say, “Aren’t you going to give the shot?” I sa y, “I just did.” You say, “No you didn’t.” I say, “Yes I did. While you were telling me about your uncle Ramus I gave him his R abies vaccine into his right hip.” Then you say, “No you didn’t-- he didn’t yelp-- and I think I would notice if you gave my dog a shot!” Then I pull the syringe I just used from an otherwise empty trash. “Oh.” she says. To avert this problem I’ve taken to actually showing and verbally naming each injection to the owner. Kind of silly but I try to do it every time. One time a female client exposed herself to me—she had some work done “up top” and whipped it off--to get my professional opinion. I considered for a moment, told her she looked g reat, and left the room. Totally inappropriate. David Stone, DVM
og. nhe
Pet Pages Training - Puppy Classes - Boarding - Day Care - Grooming
tiool oay, he ce sthe id,
Dr. David Stone
283-2700 Corner intersection of Rt. 4 & 43 Bloomingrove Rd. Exit 8 off I-90
et.
rs. ke est acug ks! reta en ep og, rnop no en ile ou ou me his dI he ys. lly do
me nal at,
THE PET GALLERY Let Us Pamper Your Pet Grooming Boarding Daycare
WE WILL TREAT YOUR PET LIKE FAMILY
Mamsita Purrfect Kitty Please Adopt Me! Mamasita (Little Mama) is a sweet 3 to 4 year old female orange tabby kitty. She was found outside with her kittens by one of our volunteers. Her little kittens soon all found homes so now it’s the Mama’s turn! Mamasita is an absolute doll and is loved by all our volunteers. Her sunny disposition matches her sunny coat! Mamasita is a special needs kitty as she tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). However, please note that FIV cats can live long, full & healthy lives. If you can provide a “forever home” to this affectionate kitty, she will surely purr her way into your heart! As with all Purrfect Companion kitties, Mamasita is upto-date on routine shots, house trained and neutered or spayed. For more information on Mamasita, please contact one of the following Purrfect Companions’ representatives: Jane, at 436-7450 or Maryann at 331-2221 or at kitties.purrfectcompanions@yahoo.com.
New $5 OFF Grooming or Clients First Day of Day Care FREE Only
On Rt 9 Columbia/Rensselaer County Border (just south of exit 12, I-90)
518 732-0200 ~ www.rensselaerpetgallery.com
BLC Pet Care When you want your Pets to have TLC come to BLC
Pet Sitting Dog Walking
fully insured references available
Brenda Cole ~ Owner Own sweetbrendalee@verizon.net 518-283-2986 518-366-5750
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
25
KID’s PAGES
Discovery Place Learning Center, LLC Teaching children their way every day! Now Enrolling 2012 -2013
Preschool & Toddler Learning Groups Ages 24 mos to 5 yrs
April Open House Call or Email to schedule a tour or watch our website for the date!
Birthday Parties Now booking for dates beginning mid-April
Information on Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Available Soon!
479-1110
749 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush (between Enterprise & E. Greenbush Diner) Terry Duncan, Master of Sciences in Education Lynn La Voie-Stephens, Master of Arts in Speech Pathology
SATURDAY HOURS & INDOOR PLAYGYM Check website or facebook for information
www.discoveryplaceny.com
26
MARCH 2012
KJ
’s
REGISTRATION
Ongoing for Session 3
e-mail: kjsgymnastics@ msn.com for details *Session 4 Starts in Early April
Gymnastics, inc A of th e Ar Gymn t astic Gym s State
Get your child playground & pool Ready! KJ’s Program will develop your child’s
strength and coordination!
Parents Night Out - Fri, March 16th 3143 Route 9 Valatie 518-758-2554
www.kjsgymnastics.com
KID’s FUN PAGE
s e a r c h
BDHRZCKKVR NUACARPELE DUULEEGBTV HNUSDOOAKO GCAAVDLBHL KRRLKYDCWC ZAENEOHKOZ PSLENRUFHD VZSBNRISUF IRISHNMSYD
DISCOVERY PLACE LEARNING CENTER, LLC 7HDFKLQJ FKLOGUHQ WKHLU ZD\ HYHU\ GD\
479-1110 749 Columbia Turnpike East Greenbush Between Enterprise & E. Greenbush Diner
M a z e
CLOVER GOLD GREEN IRELAND IRISH LEPRACAUN LUCK PARADE
C R Y P T O G R A M
C O L O R I N G Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
27
Kids Page Sponsored by
w o r d
t
28
MARCH 2012
Complete Selection of Instruments, Supplies & Books
Rockyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Music Studio
LESSONS ~ Any Age ~ Any Level drums, guitar, bass, brass, woodwins, voice & more Our Next Group Guitar Class Starts Thursday, March 22nd
Master Class: Jim Wieder The Roots of Rock-in-Roll & Art of Telecaster Playing
Coming Saturday March 10 at 3 pm Woodland Hill Montessori School in North Greenbush, NY
For more information please call
(518) 429-6380 or email rpetro57@gmail.com
visit www.rockysmusicstudio.com
PIANO FOR SPECIAL KIDZ
Helping Small Businesses Tell Their Story advertising ~ design ~ media relations
Creative
Smart
Passionate
Developing creative ideas and marketing that communicate your unique value641-9330 to the world! www.ourtownerensco.com
Dee Cucinotta BA Music MS Special Education Come see us at the 2012 Kidz Expo on March 3 at the Empire State Plaza!
6WXGLRV LQ /DWKDP DQG 1RUWK *UHHQEXVK 518.331.9695
78279
Our Towne Marketing & Consulting LLC
teaching students of all ages & abilities beginners welcome
www.piano4specialkidz.com
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
29
WELLNESS, HEALTH
Word of Mouth by Joseph Lapinski, DDS Dear Dr. Lapinski: I broke a front tooth playing hockey, when I was younger. It’s been fixed many times over the years–but now it’s loose & discolored. I just don’t know what to do and hate the way it looks. Pete M., West Sand Lake Dear Pete: Great Question. Losing a front tooth is a difficult situation. The most common permanent solution for replacing the missing tooth is a bridge or an implant. An IMPLANT is a titanium screw that is placed into the jaw bone. During a period of healing (2-6 months) the bone grows into the threads on the implant to secure it in the jaw. In some cases, a bone graft is recommended for support, esthetics or both. Once healed, the implant is used to support a custom made crown that is made to look like the tooth next to it. Many people like this procedure because it rarely affects any other teeth, and there’s no chance of decay since its titanium. The downside is the time involved and the cost of treatment. With a BRIDGE, a false tooth fills in the space and is supported by crowns on either side of the missing t ooth. It’s completed in less time but the t eeth on either side of the missing t ooth are part of the r estoration process. Esthetically, the bridge will be uniform in c olor, and the lab will mat ch the t eeth for size and shape. On the plus side , the time for completing a bridge is shor ter than an implant. P atients can make positiv e cosmetic changes to their smile sinc e multiple teeth are involved. The downside General & Cosmetic Dentistry is that multiple t eeth are involved. If there is a pr oblem in the future with one of the suppor ting teeth, the entire bridge may need to be replaced. Both ar e excellent esthetic & func tional options. Sometimes one option provides a better final result than the other because Providing heathly, beautiful smiles of individual circumstances. The final prosthesis is very solid and for your entire family they look just like natural t eeth providing years of chewing and smiling for you. 114 Troy Road ~ East Greenbush, NY Photos of both options are at w ww.LapinskiDental.com or go to the w ww.ADA.org for these and man y other topic s. As 477-8428 always, please discuss y our concerns with your dentist or h ygienist. We can’t help you if we don’t know about it. www.LapinskiDental.com Send questions to DrJoe@LapinskiDental.com
LAPINSKI DENTAL
Welcoming New Patients
Naturopathic consultation services for individualized lifestyle & nutritional support for both adult and pediatric population. Other services include homeopathy, botanicals, nutraceuticals, gentle naturopathic detoxification, and mind-body support. For more information and to set-up a free 15 minute consultation, please contact Dr. Cole: 77 Troy Rd, Suite E East Greenbush, NY 10261 amycolend@gmail.com
518-701-4587 www.amycolend.com 30
MARCH 2012
HEALTH & BEAUTY
d.
th
he
he
s,
19 Yearssince of Experience Licensed 1991
The Living Well All Your Life Goals Your Way
As each drop of water is unique so is each person’s path to wellness INDIVIDUALIZED WELLNESS PLANNING WHOLISTIC FITNESS, NUTRITION AND GOAL SETTING
424-0817 ~ Laura Ann Higgins Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
31
WELLNESS, HEALTH & BEAUTY
Spring Allergies by Dr. Amy Cole Many people are looking forward to the first day of Spring this month knowing that warmer weather is on the way and plants will be sprouting. Others may dread it knowing that with the new growth comes runny nose, itchy/running eyes, cough, headache, and sneezing. These are just a few symptoms that accompany allergies, which is when your immune system over reacts to something in the environment such as pollen in the spring. For many people it is almost impossible to avoid the seasonal environmental allergies. While there are medications available to help ease the symptoms there are also some other modalities that may be able to ease the allergy issue, allowing people to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The first step is to find out if anything else is contributing to inflammation in your body. Some foods that you eat may contribute to this inflammation. Elimination of processed, sugary foods as well as other foods that you could be sensitive to may be the first step in the battle. Also, adding in some honey that is native to the area you live in may help to reduce allergy symptoms. A limited list of other remedies that may be helpful include:
Hydrotherapy • Nasal irrigation methods such as using a neti-pot may be helpful in managing symptoms associated with allergies. Be sure to use filtered water in the neti-pot. It is important to remember that even though these items are natural it does not mean that they are safe for everyone. Dosages should be made on an individual basis. Please see a doctor that has been trained in both conventional and alternative medicine to make the best recommendations for you.
Nutraceuticals • Bromelain • Quercetin • Probiotics • Vitamin C Herbs: • Urtica dioica: Stinging Nettle • Butterbur • Horny Goat weed Homeopathy: • Euphrasia: Watery, runny, eyes and nose • Allium cepa: Watery, runny, eyes and nose w/ burning • Some companies offer a “homeopathic nosode” in which the typical allergy-causing plants in your area are diluted to make a homeopathic remedy. Some people have reported relief when using this type of homeopathy for their allergies.
ʭ ɸʆʍʊʆʗʊʏʈ ʚʐʖʓ ʔʚʎʑʕʐʎʔ ʭ ɫʎʑʐʘʆʓʊʏʈ ʚʐʖ ʕʉʓʐʖʈʉ ʂʄʕʊʗʆ ʄʂʓʆ ʭ ɮʆʍʑʊʏʈ ʚʐʖ ʓʆʂʄʉ ʚʐʖʓ ʈʐʂʍʔ
1542 Columbia Turnpike Schodack
www.schodackchiropractor.com 32
MARCH 2012
y r-
S Series iQ - THE SMARTEST, MOST ADVANCED HEARING AIDS AVAILABLE.
Welcome to S Series – the world’s top selling line of hearing aids. Featuring Drive Architecture,™ Starky’s state-of-the-art, integrated circuit platform.
e e
March Madness!
Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri 10-5:30, Thurs10-7, Sat10-4, Sun 12-4
The
Country Trunk
Buy 3 Beads Get 1 FREE *least expensive bead is free Sunday March 25th - Sunday April 1st
705 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
479-7282
MARCH 2012
33
ARE YOU IRISH? Local Geneologist to Offer Workshops By Lisa Dougherty ‘Tis nearly St. P atrick’s Day, and thoughts turn t o everything Irish. Nearly 40 million Americans claim desc ent from Irish immigrants, the second largest ethnic group (Germans are #1) in our country. L ocally there are more people of Irish descent in the Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Troy area than there are in the city of Boston. Our region boasts many active organizations dedicated to the preservation of Irish heritage- numerous chapters of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Capital District Celtic Cultural Association, and the Troy Irish Genealogy S ociety, among others. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by attending parades, serving corned beef and cabbage, or simply by wearing green. I ha ve been researching my family history for 17 years, and have always had a special int erest in m y Irish ancestors. A s a
volunteer at the National Archives in Pittsfield, I was asked to put together a presentation about Irish genealogy research. Three years later, I have given lectures and workshops on the subjec t at various libraries and museums ar ound the ar ea. C urrently I’m volunteering at the newly- opened Irish American Heritage Museum, 470 Br oadway in Alban y, where there will be thr ee workshops on I rish genealogy offered in M arch. For more information, contact the museum at 427-1916, visit their w ebsite at www.irishamericanheritage.org, or “Like” them on Facebook. In upcoming issues of “ Our Towne”, I’ll be offering some advice on how to get star ted with y our family history, even if y ou won’t be wearing green this St. Patrick’s Day!
Irish Geneology Workshops
March 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 6:30P M, How to Find a Plac e of Orig in for Your Irish Ancestor, I rish American Heritage Museum, 470 Broadway, Albany Saturday, March 10, 10AM, How to Find a Place of Origin for Your Irish Ancestor, Crandall Library, Glens Falls, NY Wednesday, March 14, 11AM-1PM, Genealogy Help, Irish American Heritage Museum 6:30 PM, Irish Genealogy Workshop- bring your questions and "brick walls", Irish American Heritage Museum
Wednesday, March 21, 10AM -12PM, Genealogy Help , Crandall Library, Glens Falls /6:30PM, Using the Irish Family History Foundation Website to Research Your Irish Ancestors, Irish American Heritage Museum
Saturday, March 24, 11AM, How to Find a Place of Origin for Your Irish Ancestor, Troy Public Library Wednesday, March 28, 11AM-1PM, Genealogy Help, Irish American Heritage Museum I volunteer giving people help with their genealogy at the f ollowing places: Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 1st Thursday of the month, 10-12, call 371-8622 for an appointment for a 20 minute consultation, Open round table discussion from 12-1. Irish American Heritage Museum, 11-1, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month Crandall Library, Glens Falls, NY, 10-12, 3r d Wednesday of the month
HOW I GOT INTO GENEOLOGY By Lisa Dougherty I became int erested in my family history as a teenager in the late 1970’s when my father attempted to trace his Irish roots. He placed an ad looking for information in the local newspaper in Ireland where his great grandparents had come from. He received several letters from people who were familiar with the M ortimer family, the name of his g reat grandmother. Never being able to make a connection between the families, he passed away in 1990 without knowing many details about his Irish ancestors. I n 1995, I came acr oss my father’s old, tattered manila folder containing the research that he did 20 y ears earlier. I pi cked up where he left off, and using a combination of information available on the internet, and the old letters from 1970’s Ireland, I was able to trace the families of m y great great grandparents. On a trip t o Ireland in 1997, I had the oppor tunity to meet one of the l etter writers, a third cousin who had supplied information that turned out to be an important piece of the puzzle. Since that time, I have successfully traced various ancestors of myself, my husband, family members and friends back t o Ireland. I enjoy sharing my own experiences in researching Irish ancestors with others by presenting workshops at local venues. 34
MARCH 2012
L
S F m
H M T Sa C
4
LIKE US on facebook
6 ¶ < %0$5,1( '62 8%
Haappy Hap Happy py St. t. Patrick’ kk’’s Dayy! Day
DOBY’s Submarine Official FB
ty
ut ee ect tly ge ee nite k.
on be
ur
ri-
ol-
th, ulys
he
He ed to
up ble ter ve wn
G VLLQFH WH D U H S 2 QHG *,)7 )DPLO\ 2Z
&$5'6 $9$,/$%/(
Large menu including:
WEEKLY SPECIALS!
Subs, Sandwiches, Burgers, Wings, Fried Chicken, Cheese Steaks and much much more!
< $ ' 1 2 0 (9(5<
Hours: M-W 10am-8pm; TH-F 10am-9pm; Sat 10am-8pm; Closed Sunday
2))
UFKDVHG X S E X 6 (YHU\
43 Mall West Sand Lake, NY
| 518.674.3373
The Trial of Bat Shea The Novel
From the website: http://batshea.com/novel.html As Irish immigration to America intensified after the 184647 potato famine, Troy, New York—a city of mills and factories at the eastern end of the Erie Canal—offered work to the Irish among friends and relatives from the Old Country. I n Karl Marx’s industrial wast eland, owners and o verlords exploited men and w omen and even children, forcing them to work long hours f or little pay and then lock ing them out when business slowed. Labor unions sought to improve conditions by organizing resistance, but often only succeeded in sparking confrontation and violence. The numerical superiority of the Irish, though, opened one avenue for advancement: politics. Edward J. Murphy, a prosperous Troy brewer, bank president and former mayor who built Troy’s splendid city hall in 1875, aligned himself with New York’s Democrat machine, Tammany Hall, and in 1893 got himself appointed United States senator. Even though he often journeyed to Washington to pass tariff bills and pr otect the markets for the Protestant, he still ran Troy with an iron fist, using the polic e department as his personal army. To stay in power, Murphy used voting fraud. Each election day his legions of Irish Catholic ward heelers hit the streets with gangs of repeat voters and the cops guarding the polls let them inside with a “tip o’ the wink.”
Bat Shea's Irish Pub
An authentic Celtic Nations Pub with food, live music and an old Troy flair.
95 Ferry St Troy, NY 12180 (518) 308-0379 Email: claddaghcatering75@gmail.com Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
35
43 Mall West Sand Lake
Women’s Health & Wellness
30 minute workout for women Resistance & strength training Cardiovascular workout ZUMBA on the circuit Free Weight Management class Mother-Dauther & Student Specials *Advanced Workout Available
WHY WAIT? ACCEPTING BSNENY Aqua ~ Well Care ~ Silver Sneakers ~ Fit Blue
674-1226
WHY WAIT TO EXERCISE? By Audra Bently
Why wait until your doctor tells you that you need to exercise? Why wait to hear that you have high blood pressure, type II diabetes, poor bone density or that you need to lose weight before you start an exercise program? You can often avoid many health issues if you begin an exercise program before your doctor tells you it is necessary. Why not change your focus to taking 30 minutes for you? Just 30 minutes could change your life! There is only one you. It is important to take care of you. At Curves of West Sand Lake, we understand that staying committed to an exercise routine can be challenging at times. That is why we make it fun! Members of our Curves look forward to coming back. Curves of West Sand Lake provides a 30 minute workout designed for women. It focuses on resistance & strength training of every major muscle group and provides a cardiovascular workout, including Zumba on the circuit. The goal at Curves of West Sand Lake is to provide a comfortable, supportive and fun atmosphere, while keeping women engaged in caring about their health and wellness. We have free weight management classes, seminars from providers in the area, member exclusive contests and challenges, and a personal trainer on site at all times at no extra cost – it is all part of your membership.
Greetings from the East Greenbush Town Supervisor Keith Langley I would like to begin by thanking ‘Our Towne’ for giving me this op portunity to address their readers. Since I took office in January, I have been impressed with all the positive things that go on quietly, every day, in our c ommunity. I have had an oppor tunity to become more aware of the enormous c ontributions made by both the East Gr eenbush and the Clint on Heights Fire Departments. Both Depar tments had recent installation of officer dinners, which I had the privilege of attending, and I w ould like to publicly recognize both depar tments and their leaders. Their hard work is humbling and I am g rateful for all that they do.
East Greenbush Supervisor Keith Langley, Councilperson Suzanne Mangold, Councilperson Ginny O’Brien, and C ouncilperson Rick Matters shown at the r ecent Clinton Heights F ire Department Dinner.
At the February Town Board meeting w e finalized the f ees for this year’s summer camp. We look forward to providing an outstanding camp experience for your children, including daily transpor tation and field trips to area attractions. Our staff is a cadr e of well trained local professionals, college students, and some high school students in training . We will have two sessions of three weeks each and each session will cost $300. with a $25. one time fee for non-residents. Please check our web site, www.eastgreenbush.org or call Town Hall at 477-7445 for registration information. As always, the door is open at Town Hall and be well. 36
MARCH 2012
re, e en m
u?
ng
s
t
o-
m-
s. om ra
Sucilire
ell ks rg
Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
37
Clinton Heights Fire Department Installation by Edward Pratt The Clinton Heights Fire Department recently held its Annual Installation of Officers Dinner during which several special awards were presented. Sworn in by City of Rensselaerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistant Chief Jay Corcoran were Randy Cherubino, Chief; Seth Tracy, First Assistant Chief and Bill Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor as 2nd Assistant Chief. Meaghan Hart, Vice President of the Ladies Auxiliary was called upon to install the Line Officers: For the Bruen Hose Company, Station I, Eric Warner, Captain; Tony Hazzard, Lieutenant Truck 8; Steve Bestler, Lieutenant Rescue 8. For Community Hose Company, Station II, Chris Racine, Captain; Station Lieutenant, Mike Hart; Steve Weaver, Lieutenant Squad 8; Lieutenant Engine 8-5, Tom Penk and Lieutenant Engine 8-7, Chad Farrell. Executive Company Officers installed for the respective stations were, for the Bruen Hose Company, Tony Hazzard, President; Bill Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, Vice President; Dave Jordan, Secretary; Tom Burns, Treasurer and as members, Frank Fiato, Rich Hendrick and Mike Rossello. For Community Hose, recently elected and installed were Ron Stark, President; Tim Kirsch, Vice President; Michelle Such, Secretary; Ed Pratt, Treasurer; John Farrell, Financial Secretary and TJ Laplante, Sergeant at Arms. The Ladies Auxiliary installed Michele Graham as President; Meaghan Hart, Vice President; Bernadette Hazzard, Secretary; Michele Penk, Financial Secretary; Helene Reed, Treasurer and Joyce Smith, Chaplain. Several awards and special recognition were given to members of the Department. Awarded the status of Life Member was Tim McLaughlin. Chief Randy Cherubino presented Tony Rossello, Sr. with a plaque acknowledging 65 years of service with the Department. The John Mitchell Sr. Award was presented to Ed Pratt for many years of exemplary service. Fire Fighter of the Year Award, usually granted to an individual, this year was presented to all the members of both Companies for their heroic response when called upon to address the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Award for each respective company were presented to Al Boniface, Tim Murphy, Lenny Barcomb and Dan McCarthy.
Fasten your seatbelt, sister. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bold. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fun. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re high impact.
Want to know more?
M
oxie is a national business and professional organization where authentic, wicked-smart women share business savvy and drive business results. Events with The Moxie Exchange Movement are Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ä&#x161;Â&#x2DC; Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ȹ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ÇŻČą Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;tion, momentum and results - thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moxie! Moxie Exchange Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month from 3:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:00 pm (New Member Orientation is 3:00-3:30) at The Standard, Crossgates Mall, Albany, NY
Contact Lori King-Kocsis, Capital Region Moxie Exec lorikk@moxiemovement.com or go to
www.moxieexchange.com 38
MARCH 2012
WKH WRZQH WDYHUQ
Four Time Winner of St. Judeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wing Wars
1< $YHULOO 3DUN 1<
Voted #1 Troy Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & Girls Club Pizza Palooza
ZZZ 7KH7RZQH7DYHUQ FRP 2SHQ GD\V D ZHHN # DP Â&#x2021; 5HVHUYDWLRQV $FFHSWHG 6HUYLQJ 6XQ 7KXUV XQWLO SP a )UL 6DW XQWLO SP
Â&#x2021; :H VPRNH RXU RZQ 0HDWV DQG &KHHVHV«+DOI &KLFNHQV %HHI %ULVNHW 3XOOHG 3RUN 6W /RXLV 5LEV DQG 7XUNH\ FRPSOHWH ZLWK EDNHG EHDQV FROHVODZ DQG IUHVK EDNHG FRUQEUHDG
Â&#x2021; )XOO 0HQX LQFOXGLQJ SDVWD VHDIRRG ¿VK EHHI VDQGZLFKHV PRUH Â&#x2021; ,Q +RXVH 'U\ $JHG $QJXV 6WHDNV DQG 3ULPH 5LE )UL 6DW
Â&#x2021; 'DLO\ 6SHFLDOV SRVWHG RQ RXU ZHEVLWH WKHWRZQHWDYHUQ FRP Â&#x2021; )XOO %DU RIIHULQJ FKRLFHV RI %HHU DQG 'DLO\ 'ULQN 6SHFLDOV
d
h,
447 3rd Avenue
Expires 3/31/2012 ([SLUHV Watervliet 273-0232 Fax 273-1418 Fax your order for pick up!
Expires 3/31/2012 ([SLUHV
350 2nd Avenue N. Troy 235-5552
700 Hoosick Road Brunswick 272-0144
636A New Loudon Road Route9 Latham 783-3176
NOW OPEN
203 Wolf Road Colonie 454-9490 Our Towne Rensselaer County ~ 518-641-9330 ~ debbie@ourtownerensco.com
MARCH 2012
39
OUR TOWNE
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID ALBANY, NY PERMIT #808
Rensselaer County’s Community Resource
To Advertise - Call 641-9330
ST. PATRICK’S DAY Live Music Starting at 2pm *Including The Broken String Band
Come Try Some of the most Innovative Mexican Inspired Food in the Region!
Innovative Mexican Cuisine Best Ribs in the Capital Region ~Metroland
Best Margarita in the Capital Region -Metroland - Hudson Valley Magazine
405 River Street ~ Troy ~ www.josemalone.com
518-273-2196 40
MARCH 2012